Follow these steps: - Use API versioning to ensure backward compatibility while updating dependencies. - Implement fallback mechanisms to maintain core functionality if the API fails. - Set up real-time monitoring and alerts to quickly detect and respond to changes in the third-party API.

When a third-party API update threatens your system, the first step is quick containment. I always keep an eye on dependency updates, so when something shifts, we’re not caught off guard. In one case, an API update broke authentication flows across our app, so we implemented a backward-compatible shim to bridge the gap temporarily. This bought us time to refactor without disrupting service. Also, having solid automated testing in place is a lifesaver—you catch issues before they hit production. Always have a contingency plan, like rolling back or toggling features, so your system stays afloat while you adapt.